Rep. Charlie Dent: Congress poised to work together in 2015

The Republican Party will control the House and Senate when the 114th Congress convenes in January.

The Republican Party will control the House and Senate when the 114th Congress convenes in January. (Mark Wilson, Getty Images File Photo)

Opinion: 2015 can be a great year for America if Washington adopts a realistic approach to governing

As we close the book on the year and prepare for the opening of the 114th Congress, I am cautiously optimistic. I believe that 2015 holds the potential to be a great year for America, in terms of a better economy, more jobs and increased security — if Washington adopts a realistic approach to governing.

Am I suggesting setting aside principles? No. I'll always fight for the principles I share with the people who elected me.

What I am suggesting, however, is that we seek to find reasonable solutions to the many problems facing our nation while recognizing the hard realities of a divided government — where Congress is controlled by Republicans and with a Democratic president. Many of my colleagues in both the House and the Senate need to understand that incremental progress is laudable, not a capitulation. Taking an all-or-nothing approach, in a divided government, will only lead to self-imposed "cliffs" or shutdowns and a breakdown in the process.

The House and Senate can demonstrate their capacity to govern by focusing on three things: (1) regular order when it comes to the budget and appropriations process; (2) passing common-sense legislation supported by the vast majority of Americans; and (3) working on issues where there is the potential for bipartisan collaboration.

I serve on the House Appropriations Committee and will be the chairman of the Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs next year. Members of the committee are responsible for setting the funding levels for the discretionary programs, policies and agencies of the federal government.

Ideally, both the House and Senate would pass bills from each of the Appropriations Committee's 12 subcommittees and these bills would be signed by the president. Unfortunately, thanks largely to a nonfunctioning Senate, that isn't how the system has been working recently. In fact, in 2014, the Senate failed to consider any of the spending bills. Not one. As a result, we've been using the far-less-desirable methods of omnibuses and continuing resolutions to keep the government funded. Congress should not conduct business in this manner, and I believe the process will dramatically improve next year.

Next, Congress should quickly approve job-creating or job-saving legislation that enjoys the support of a majority of the American people. We should approve the Keystone XL pipeline, which could create as many as 40,000 jobs, repeal the medical device tax that has cost 33,000 jobs, and restore the 40-hour work week under the health care law, which has resulted in many Americans having their hours cut, and therefore income, reduced. President Obama must make a decision on these bipartisan pieces of legislation without hiding behind a Senate that shut out any meaningful consideration of these sound policies.

Finally, the House and Senate should focus on important issues like tax reform, transportation and trade, which hold the potential for bipartisan collaboration. While I don't believe individual tax reform can be achieved over the next two years, business tax reform presents a great opportunity to clear out the arcane, loophole-ridden sections of the tax code. If done correctly, we can produce a fairer, flatter, far less complex and special interest-oriented code that will help taxpayers and boost the economy.

Additionally, the current highway bill extension is set to expire in May 2015. Congress should pass a new, multiyear surface transportation bill instead of relying on extensions that continue outdated policies.

President Obama has shown a willingness to work with Republicans to implement a trade agenda. I have spoken with Ambassador Michael Froman, the U.S. trade representative, and believe that the opportunity exists to move forward on important trade agreements, like the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership that would greatly expand trade and investment opportunities for many American businesses. Coming to consensus on these issues would help our economy power forward again and benefit all Americans.

I'm looking forward to 2015. My sincere hope is that both parties have learned important lessons from 2013 and 2014 and that problem solving, common sense and collaboration will serve as the basis for how Congress conducts business in 2015.

U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent, a Republican, in January will begin his sixth term in Congress representing the 15th District.